Announcing CWA’s Educational Programs & In-Person Networking Events

Educational Programs and In-Person Networking Events

Last year we conducted a survey to learn more about our members’ interests and expectations from CWA. There was a high level of interest in educational workshops and in-person networking events. The Board members heard you, and are planning educational workshop/networking events this year.

About the Programs

We are working on scheduling four interactive, in-person educational events. Topics, times, dates and locations will be announced. Here’s the vision thus far:

Ideally, members will be presenters, but this may not always happen. In addition, there will be presenter submission and selection process. A video clip of you presenting will be requested.

The video does not have to be professionally recorded. We are looking at your presentation skills. You can record a two to five-minute clip of yourself teaching with your mobile device, Facebook Live, Periscope or other programs and apps, and send us a link.

Venues

Venues are needed to hold our programs. If you have connections at facilities that have meeting and conference rooms, please inquire about CWA using the space. Here are things we need:

Saturday availability

Downtown, South Loop or Near North

Has street or structure parking

Allows outside food

Has A/V equipment, ideally included in the cost of rental

Can accommodate between 25 and 100 attendees

Allows us to accept payment at the venue (cannot do so at libraries and community rooms)

Committee Members Needed

Three to four people are needed to bring this new committee to fruition. Thus, we need members who are willing to share their experiences, ideas and commitment to planning, organizing and managing events. Here are a few of the duties you’ll be performing, if selected:

Plan events and manage logistics

Manage registration

Review speaker proposals and select speakers

Video record events

Photograph events

Distribute and collect materials

Clean up after events

Other needs that arise

We hope you support us in making these programs successful. If you are interested in volunteering or can help secure venues and parking for workshops, contact Marcie Hill at msmarcie@sbcglobal.net.

Since I live in Indiana, I’m more helpful for things that can be done online such as reviewing proposals, with which I have some experience for local and national conferences.

Just a side note about location, people from the Indiana Region are more apt to attend events in the Loop or very near North since many are not familiar with bookstores or other literary hangouts farther north.

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"CWA connected me immediately with like minds, the brethren of writers I was looking for. It's an incredibly welcoming group that made a huge difference in my getting continually published. I would recommend the association to any level of writer, poet, journalist, or memoirist."
- David W. Berner, author and journalist